Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies are soft, chewy oat cookies loaded with creamy peanut butter and made entirely on the stovetop—no oven required. A quick boil of butter, sugar, and milk binds everything together so the cookies set as they cool, making them perfect for last‑minute cravings or summer days when you don’t want the oven on.​

These cookies deliver big nostalgic flavor with pantry staples: oats for texture, peanut butter for richness, and vanilla plus a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. They firm up in about 20–30 minutes on parchment, so you can go from mixing to snacking in under an hour.​

Ingredients

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups quick‑cook (instant) oats
• 1/4 teaspoon salt​

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Prep your pans

• Line 1–2 baking sheets or a section of your countertop with parchment or wax paper. This is where you’ll drop the cookies to set.​

2. Boil the butter–sugar mixture

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, sugar, and milk.
2. Stir frequently until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a full rolling boil (bubbles across the entire surface).
3. Once boiling, cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly—this timing is key for cookies that set but stay fudgy.​

3. Add peanut butter and vanilla

• Remove the pan from heat.
• Immediately stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt until completely smooth and glossy.​

4. Stir in oats and portion

1. Add the quick oats to the saucepan and stir until every oat is well coated.
2. Working quickly (the mixture thickens as it cools), drop spoonfuls onto the prepared parchment, using a tablespoon or cookie scoop.
3. Shape roughly into mounds or flatten slightly with the back of the spoon for a more traditional cookie look.​

5. Let cookies set

• Allow the cookies to sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes, or until firm to the touch and easy to lift from the paper.
• Once set, transfer to an airtight container for storage.​

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